Read Poem: My Morning Routine Re: Alex by Jessica Mifsud

My Morning Routine Re: Alex

My morning starts with his.

SHWOOMP

His door slams. It’s my alarm clock.

My door rattles

rattle

rattle

rattle

And I’m awake.

My nerves

rattle

rattle

rattle
A sharp

Click-click.

And then:

one. two. three. four. five. six.

I get up.

lightly

lightly

lightly

Two feet of hallway separate us.

one. two. three. four. five. six.

I pad barefoot to the door.

lightly

lightly

lightly

I peer through the peephole.

lightly

lightly

lightly

I see him.

one. two. three. four. five. six.

He’s there. He pulls at the door handle, again and again and again. I feel my door shake.

one. two. three. four. five. six.

My fingertips pressed

lightly

lightly
lightly

He stops. I hold my breath.

one. two. three. four. five. six.

Threes, sixes, and nines. That’s what he told me.

one. two. three. four. five. six.

He takes a step back. Stares…